1080p and 120hz and look for a brand name, chances of a problem and resolution of that problem are usually handled faster and to your satisfaction more often than it would with a brand few have heard of.

Do not waste your money on extended warranties. It's usually a way for the retailers to make a buck off from your insecurities about making a major purchase. If the TV won't last longer than the manufacter's warranty you don't want it in the first place.

I agree on the 120 hz recommendation. This will make fast motion (i.e. sports) much clearer. That is, if you go LCD/LED. If you go with plasma, that won't matter because plasma has a higher refresh rate (something like 600 hz).

I would recommend going online and reading customer reviews. I've found those to be very helpful.

_________________"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." - John Adams

“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.” - Neil deGrasse Tyson

August 23rd, 2011, 8:50 am

wjb21ndtown

Re: hdtv

Blueskies wrote:

Get a 50 inch. Don't go any smaller, you'll regret it.

1080p, get a decent brand.

I agree... 42-43" Tvs look big in the store, small when you get them home. 50" is about perfect.

August 23rd, 2011, 10:32 am

TheRealWags

Modmin Dude

Joined: December 31st, 2004, 9:55 amPosts: 12296

Re: hdtv

From personal experience I say look at Vizio. We have two of them, 42 & 52, and both are great for whatever we want to use them for (DirecTV, DVDs, Blu-Ray(PS3), games, movies, sports...). The 52 is full 1080P, however neither are 120Hz

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August 23rd, 2011, 1:01 pm

hamma77

Heisman Winner

Joined: December 8th, 2008, 3:16 pmPosts: 785

Re: hdtv

I agree with the Vizio comment. We have 3 (22,22,47) and all are very good. When we move were upgrading to a 55 and leaving the 47 behind to my girlfriends grandma and were going with a vizeo for sure.

A few months ago, I bought a 42" 1080P, 120 Hz Vizio and I'm very happy with it. As others have stated, you must get 120 Hz, even though it will cost $50-100 more than the 60 Hz TVs. It's well worth it, especially for sports and action movies. I'd also agree that the bigger, the better. I would have preferred a larger screen myself, but space in the living room kinda limited how big it could be.

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August 24th, 2011, 1:27 pm

anon749244

Varsity Captain

Joined: April 1st, 2009, 9:37 pmPosts: 312

Re: hdtv

120, 240, or 600hz(plasma)

Led will save you some money on your electric bill

Don't waste your money on 3d, it's a fad.

1080p

50"+

No extended warranty

Should be able to get a top of the line 2011-2012 led model for 1000-1300, plasma 600-700

August 24th, 2011, 9:12 pm

frok

Varsity 1st Team

Joined: August 9th, 2004, 1:51 amPosts: 256Location: kalamazoo,mi

Re: hdtv

Thanks for the feed back. Would love a 50" but wife will not go for that, biggest I can get for the room is 46". So if I go with a LCD over a Plasma I need to be looking at 120hz (good tip)

Does anyone know the Pro's and Cons of LCD Vs Plasma. Plasma looks to be much less $$

Frok

_________________I feel more like I do now than when I first got here.

Plasmas are generally the superior product in terms of picture quality. You do have to baby them more a bit tho with image burn and such, they also use more electricity and generate more heat. I would still say go plasma always when getting a bigger tv.

August 25th, 2011, 11:03 am

Blueskies

Player of the Year - Offense

Joined: September 13th, 2007, 12:43 pmPosts: 2862

Re: hdtv

Also size of the tv depends on size of the living room. If you're only 8ft from the tv a 42 inch is fine. But if you're sitting 10 or more feet away you ideally want a 50 or more.

Plasma definitely uses more energy, so your electric bills will be higher. LCD and LED are more efficient. Like Blueskies said, Plasmas generally get better picture quality. But, unless you have 2 sets next to each other to compare and you are really picky about the picture, you won't notice. Plasmas area also generally a little bit bigger (thicker) than LCD/LED.

I have a Vizio 47" LED and the picture quality is great. Either way you won't really go wrong.